Manny Ramirez Cheated? Big Deal

I'm a baseball writer, not the Pope. I've got a Hall of Fame vote, not the key to heaven. Manny Ramirez is a baseball player, not the President.

As such, I don't think I've got a right to expect much in the way of morality. I don't think Ramirez needs to be held to as high a standard as my son's kindergarten teacher.

In the days since we learned that Ramirez violated baseball's drug policy, most likely by using steroids, most of the media has rushed on a herd of high horses to condemn him.

More Coverage: Manny Apologizes to Dodgers Owner

My fellow Hall of Fame voters at FanHouse were unanimous in saying that Ramirez's transgression should keep him out of Cooperstown. Just today Kurt Streeter of the Los Angeles Times was outraged at anyone who's not outraged.

Here's the dissenting opinion: Ramirez cheated. Who cares?

Apologies to my fellow media members who have become so morally indignant about what Manny did.

Me? Not so much.

You may have noticed I was the only one of FanHouse's Hall of Fame voters who was willing to give a pass to the steroid users. While I don't begrudge any of my colleagues the right to hold their position, I just can't work up all the moral outrage.

We're talking about baseball here. It's just a game. Steroids are drugs that help you play the game better. The crime these players committed is that they wanted to be really good at their jobs, so much that they took some shortcuts that they shouldn't have taken. Besides, the line between using steroids and the accepted methods of enhancing performance through science is a blurry one, as FanHouse's David Whitley wrote last week.

The difference between steroids and other forms of artificial enhancement is that steroids are unsafe. In other areas, we applaud people who put themselves at risk to entertain us. (I'd venture to say anyone who has taken steroids to play baseball will be healthier when he's 50 than someone who plays clean in the NFL.)

Given that, is the use of performance-enhancing drugs really so egregious a character flaw as to stir up such indignation? Sorry again, but it just doesn't bother me that much.

Streeter wrote:

[Ramirez] held a special role, profited mightily from it and abused our trust. The fact so many disagree, that the "ho-hum, la-di-da" crowd has so much sway, is a sign of scrambled priorities. A sign we need more who are angry and indignant and offended. Count me in this last group. It's my job.

It is your job to be the moral compass for America? To tell us what we ought to be indignant about? You are a sports columnist and he is a baseball player.

There are way too many real problems in this world to be get so worked up about a baseball player who breaks the rules so he can be better.

Yeah, Manny set a bad exapmle for America's youth. But if my son thinks it's OK to use steroids because Manny Ramirez did, that's on me, not Manny.

Latest Manny Ramirez Images

Kevin Rolfe sells a t-shirt in reference to Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez outside Dodger Stadium's gates before the MLB baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles on Friday, May 8, 2009. Ramirez was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball for a drug violation, adding a further stamp to what will forever be known as the Steroids Era. Ramirez will lose $7.7 million in salary, but the Dodgers stand to take a financial hit, too. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

Kevin Rolfe sells t-shirts in reference to Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez outside Dodger Stadium's gates before the MLB baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles on Friday, May 8, 2009. Ramirez was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball for a drug violation, adding a further stamp to what will forever be known as the Steroids Era. Ramirez will lose $7.7 million in salary, but the Dodgers stand to take a financial hit, too. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

George Washington High School, where Los Angeles Dodgers' outfielder Manny Ramirez played is shown Friday, May 8, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Alibay Barkley, a student and baseball player for George Washington High School, responds to questions during a news interview after playing a high school baseball game against Brandeis Friday, May 8, 2009 in New York. Los Angeles Dodgers' outfielder Manny Ramirez played for George Washington in high school. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Mike Antonio, a student and baseball player for George Washington High School responds to questions during a news interview after playing a high school baseball game against Brandeis Friday, May 8, 2009 in New York. Los Angeles Dodgers' outfielder Manny Ramirez played for George Washington in high school. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Fans watch George Washington plays Brandeis during a high school baseball game Friday, May 8, 2009 in New York. Los Angeles Dodgers' outfielder Manny Ramirez played for George Washington and has been suspended for 50 games for violating the MLB anti-drug policy. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

George Washington High School head baseball coach Steve Mandl looks on during the third inning of a baseball game against Brandeis High School Friday, May 8, 2009 at George Washington High School in New York. Mandl coached Los Angeles Dodgers' outfielder Manny Ramirez when he played for George Washington. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

George Washington plays Brandeis during a high school baseball game Friday, May 8, 2009 in New York. Los Angeles Dodgers' outfielder Manny Ramirez played for George Washington and has been suspended for 50 games for violating the MLB anti-drug policy. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

As for the Hall of Fame, I don't see my ballot as an opportunity to exercise my moral judgment. I don't see it as my chance to show that I'm a right-thinking person of good character. I get the feeling that a lot of folks aren't looking out for the integrity of the Hall of Fame, but of themselves. "What does that say about me if I endorse a cheater?"

There are a lot of other -- more important -- ways in my life for me to show I'm a moral person on the 364 days a year I'm not filling out a Hall of Fame ballot.

Sure, the words "intergrity, sportsmanship and character" are on the ballot, but the Hall has a lot of guys of questionable character, because all were great baseball players.

To me, a Hall of Fame ballot is about baseball. Pick the best.

Statistics make it relatively easy to know who performed the best between the lines. Beyond that, there is what you saw with your eyes. Which players captured your attention? Which ones did things that took your breath away? Which ones created memories you'll have forever?

Barry Bonds. Manny Ramirez. Roger Clemens. Alex Rodriguez. History will show that all of them were, without a shadow of a doubt, among the best baseball players of their era, whether they enhanced themselves or not. They played in an era of cheaters, and they were still the best.

Fifty years from now, someone will take his son to Cooperstown. As he's walking past the busts of Bonds and Clemens and Ramirez, hopefully he'll explain the Steroid Era.

"A lot of players, hundreds of them, did some things that were wrong. We still don't know which guys did what, and we never will. All we know is what we could see on the field. And on the field, these guys were the best."

If he's expecting a bigger life lesson than that, Cooperstown in not the right place to look.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

5-10-2009 @ 6:56PM

Marvin Fletcher said...

Should he own up to what he did? Is it OK if he violated the current rules of the game? Is it OK if someone used substances on bats or balls to improve their play between the lines?
Where do you draw the line between what is acceptable and what is not?

5-11-2009 @ 1:38AM

Michael said...

What do you mean, "own up"? Ramirez is being duly punished under the rules of the sport, and he is accepting that punishment.

The problem is with the sportswriters (and "fans" - I use quotations because they seem to like controversy more than they like the SPORT) thinking there should be something more - and that "something" needs to be exactly what the individual writer thinks it should be.

5-10-2009 @ 7:06PM

Jim Fitzgerald said...

ALL of the players alleged to have used steroids should be banned from baseball for life. 50 games is a joke. All of their records as a professional should be at the very least listed in italics and removed from consideration as "all-time" records." To do anything less than that declares that baseball is not a serious sport. Ball players are not beyond reproach, in life there are consequences when you cheat. For 100 years players have toiled away grateful for the opportunity to be treated so well and paid so well for playing a children's game. For the last 20, way too many have tried to become immortal by cheating. The everybody does it excuse, or worse the well you can't prove it, so you have to let it go excuse -- is made by the weak minded and amoral. Bottom line -- these guys from Maguire to Manny are cheats. So if baseball ever wants to be a serious sport again and not among the sports like Roller Derby, then the commissioner must ban the likes of bonds, Clemens, A-Rod and Manny. He has the power, he can do it on suspicion alone. He owes it to history.,

5-11-2009 @ 2:22AM

chuckie said...

Hey Jim, you're talking about Ball-less Bud. Don't hold your breath!

5-10-2009 @ 7:22PM

sheldend said...

It's not a moral issue at this point, it's the rules of the game. If you break the rules you're out. That simple. How do we know Clemens, Bonds, A-Rod and Manny are the best of there era? We have don't know and either do they.

5-10-2009 @ 7:47PM

Welcome Dawn said...

The writer of this article is a prime example of what is wrong with our society and morals.
He is a disgrace to the low life profession of journalism.

5-10-2009 @ 8:06PM

ldhgto68 said...

To welcome Dawn. You are exactly right ,he compares 40 million dollar Manny to his 35000 dollar teacher of his child and wants her held to a higher standard. That writer needs to put his money where his high standards are.

5-11-2009 @ 8:10AM

randy said...

well said Dawn, you nailed it!

Martin said...

Mr. Fletcher- What you either don't get or else just don't care about is that allowing steroids to be used puts players in the position of either:
(1) taking steroids which are harmful (and can be fatal), or
(2) not taking steroids, and not being able to achieve their dreams of playing in the major leagues.
Today's society, unlike the days of the Roman gladiators, has determined that the protection of human life is more important than entertainment.

5-10-2009 @ 7:54PM

robek770 said...

it's amazing to me what has been going on for the last number of years with steroids and performance enhancers. It's accepted fact that from the fifties until just a year or so ago almost every ballplayer was using large amounts of amphetamines daily to "get up" to play ball. This most probably included 90 to 100 percent of all players! Amphetamines are way more dangerous,especially when used and abused daily. GIVE ME A BREAK!

5-10-2009 @ 8:04PM

sandytarrdesign said...

Cheat6ers taint the game and should be banned....at least their record breaking stats should be erased. There are after all honest players up against these lying creeps.

5-10-2009 @ 8:09PM

pandora1869 said...

Who cares if Manny did any kind of performance enhancing drugs?? The truth of the matter is he still has to hit the ball.. Use the Canseco brothers as an example, both take steroids, only one does well...you still have to hit the ball...done.

5-10-2009 @ 8:14PM

Jeff Fletcher said...

I'm not saying he should be allowed to use steroids. The rules are that if you test positive you get a 50-game ban. That's what he got. I never suggested he shouldn't have been penalized. If the rules were that a player who was suspended for steroids was not eligible for the Hall of Fame, I'd be happy to abide by that too. (That's why Pete Rose is not in the Hall. The rules preclude him from being on the ballot. There is no judgment to be made on the part of the writers.) My issue is when people start passing moral judgments on Manny or any of the steroid users. He broke the rules and he's paying the penalty. I drove too fast and got a speeding ticket. Each of us is paying the penalty that the rules dictate we pay. Period.

5-11-2009 @ 1:49AM

You are exactly right, Jeff. (And where's this outrage with the NFL, who seems to catch almost nobody with their supposedly superior drug tests yet corners the market in freakishly heavy and aggressive players and rampant gynecomastia.)

I'm beginning to suspect the sportswriters and talk-show hosts that whip up the kind of moral outrage we're seeing here aren't really baseball fans at all.

People want to watch baseball, not have it rubbed in our faces every day that we should be ashamed of the sport.

5-10-2009 @ 8:25PM

Nelson said...

If it weren't for the media no one would know what has been going on and no one would give a rats ass as long as they are being entertained. Baseball is entertainment,these guys are great at what they do. Steroid use is an extension of their athletisism. These guys just want to be better and give us a better product on the field. WHY should any of us feel offended by what they do to prepare themselves to give us a better and more entertaining game. I remember when McGuire and Sosa were going at i. IT WAS GREAT. Every one was enjoying it. The Yankees were winning, baseball was back and it was better. WHo cares what these ballplayers did. They certainly didn't hurt anyone but themselves. All I read now is about how bad these guys are. I've never enjoyed the game more. There certainly is much better competition from all the teams. Any way who is the media that they can say whatever they want and get away with it. Who gave them this powerful pen in which to be able to critizise whomever they please and we the fan falls for it. We make our judgements by what these guys write. If they write it then it must be true therefore it's bad. You fans have to think for yourselves and not be influenced by what these newspaper guys tell us. Have you not been entertained? If so let it go. These guys still need the talent,the hand eye coordination to hit a 95 mph fastball. Not just anybody can do this. They just want to be better. Let him who has never sinned cast the first stone. Yep, just as I figured. Lighten up people life is too short. Enjoy the game. I love 500 foot shots. WOW, did you see that. C'mon people.

5-10-2009 @ 8:31PM

hafttwo said...

90% of LA IS ON DRUGS WHATS ANOTHER ONE

5-10-2009 @ 8:32PM

dcadla said...

I guess this guy would vote Pete Rose into Coopserstown . Just broke a few stupid rules in a game.... Certainly helps teach kids a lesson. the rules --- just a guideline. Cheat and if you're good enough who cares?

5-11-2009 @ 8:39PM

You don't get it. Why must it be so personal with certain fans and steroids. Who are you to give a shit about these guys. Nobody is putting a gun to your head to watch a game. That's your business. These people should stop dragging everyone into their argument. Man live and let live. Wisen up dude.

5-10-2009 @ 8:48PM

DJ said...

Fletcher... calling yourself a sports writer is stretching things a tad, don't you think?

5-10-2009 @ 9:03PM

italiaforza55 said...

i agree with the columnist. who cares? whose to say mickey mantle didnt use anything? roger maris? babe ruth was drunk half the time he played. should we ban players from using alcohol? whose to say that doesnt performance enhance. there were not tests to detect this stuff back then. these guys still have to play the game. they have to train to play the game. they cant just take it and magically they are better. i was reading the list of the players who tested positive recently..i couldn't tell you half the guys, because they are nobodys! and they are still nobodys after juicing. people who take steroids work just as hard, if not harder than the average athlete. out of all of the people who take steroids in America, it is something like 92% of them are normal everyday people, gym rats, even company executives. think about that. are steroids improving fortune 500 companies? should that be illegal?